Hinata had always liked
holding hands. It was a habbit that she always had. Her earliest
memory was of her small hand being cradled by her fathers strong hand
as they walked down the street. She remembered feeling protected and
loved and treassured. It was a feeling that Hinata often missed
about their current relationship. Hinata knew her father loved her,
but she missed the open displays of affection he gave her before her
mother died. Now Hiashi displayed his love through training and
encouraging her to become stronger.

Hinata still liked
holding hands. It was how she expressed herself the best. It was
how she showed her friends and family that she cared about them. But
there was always something missing. Holding hand didn't make her
feel tressured anymore. Eventually she stopped holding other
people's hands, and just clasped her hands togehter, giving to her
self the one thing that others were unable to give her.

Hinata Hyuuga age 13.

After Sasuke had left the
village to be with Orochimaru, Hinata had started holding people's
hands again. She needed to show those she loved that they were
important to her before she never got the chance to do so again.
When she first started holding hands again, people...talked. They
thought, Oh that poor dear. Naruto leaves and she starts going
out with everyone to try and fill the void. Everyone knew that
Hinata had a crush on Naruto, just like they all knew that Naruto
only had eyes for Sakura.

The first time anyone saw
Hinata holding hands, was with her cousin Neji. Everyone was quite
certain that they were just acting like cousins, so they didn't think
much of it. The next day however, they saw Kiba walking Hinata home
hand in hand. And then the next day it was Shino she was holding
hands with. What really caught people's attention was when Hinata
was spotted holding hands with both Shino and Kiba, as they
went to get their weekly dinner together.

Rumors continued to insue
about Hinata as she was seen holding hands with each member of the
"Rookie Nine," with the exception of Naruto and Sasuke,
the other members of her cousin's team, and even the jounin team
leaders of those teams. Finally the rumors reached Hinata, it took
them longer then other runors because everyone she held hands with
wanted to shield her from the nasty thoughts of the village. She
blushed and stammered, but didn't stop holding her loved ones hands.
Everyone who was concerned knew the truth, and that was all that
mattered.

One day, however, they
found out that not everyone who was involved knew what was going on.
Temari, the sand ninja, had arrived in Konoha on official business,
only to hear about a very recent sighting of Hinata and Shikamaru
holding hands as they walked down the street togehter. Temari only
saw red as she bounded after the couple. She found them laying in a
field, cloud gazing. But they weren't alone. Chouji lay on the
other side of Hinata, holding her other hand.

"What they hell's
going on?" Temari demanded, gaining a lazy glance from
Shikamaru, and two startled ones from Hinata and Chouji.

"Hey Temari-chan,"
Shikamaru yawned, letting go of Hinata's hand as he rose to embrace
the sandnin. Temari stepped back and glared at the three ninjas.

"Don't hey me,"
she growled," I want to know what's going on."

"We're cloud
gazing," Hinata answered innocently," Care to join us?"

"I'm not talking to
you, Skank," Temari spit. This caused Hinata's eyes to widen
in concern.

"Don't call
Hinata-chan names," Chouji said, sitting up.

Temari ignored Chouji and
Hinata and turned her anger fully onto Shikamaru. "I asked you
a question." she hissed.

"And you're holding
hands because..." she replied still glaring at the lazy ninja.
She didn't like the look of comprehension that flooded his face just
then. She also didn't like the self satisfied smirk that followed.
Instead of answering her question, he did the stupidest thing the
genius could have done.

He laughed.

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